"Music for a Royal Wedding" album to be released

In celebration of the Wedding of Prince William and Miss Kate Middleton, Silva Screen Records will release Music For A Royal Wedding on April 4, 2011. Featuring a hand pickedselection of the wonderful and unforgettable music from past royal weddings, the highlights on the album include Lesley Garrett’s delicate reading of Lakmé’s “The Flower Duet”, William Walton’s stirring music for Henry V and Craig Armstrong’s tender “Balcony Scene” from Romeo & Juliet.

Also features the rousing hymn “I Vow To Thee My Country,” Princess Diana’s personal choice for her wedding to Prince Charles and sadly also played at her funeral.

The Royal Wedding will take place at Westminster Abbey on April 29th, 2011. Throughout the United Kingdom this will be a day of celebration with a national holiday declared to allow for street parties and the chance to watch the glitteringceremony.

1. FANFARE FOR A FESTIVE OCCASION
There’s no better way to get a royal event under way than with a fanfare and this 30 second piece composed by Arthur Benjamin featured at the wedding of Princess Elizabeth and HRH The Duke Of Edinburgh in 1947. This stirring version was recorded at Kneller Hall; the distinguishedheadquarters of Britain’s Royal School Of Military Music at their famous summer concerts and is performed by the Fanfare Trumpets of the school

2. ELSA’S PROCESSION TO THE CATHEDRAL FROM LOHENGRIN
Wagner’s opera Lohengrin was first performed in 1850, the romantically passionate tale of a knight in shining armor and a maiden in distress. Famed for its “Bridal March,” the processional which precedes it is magnificently arranged for a military band, The Prince Of Wales Division (Lucknow).

3. NIMROD
Elgar’s “Enigma Variations” was created when the composer returned home after giving a violin lesson and began improvising at the piano, replicating the music in the style of his varied musician friends. The ninth variation, “Nimrod”, is one of the most majestic classical pieces ever written and gives an instant invocation of the majesty of Great Britain. It’s captured here in all its glory by The City Of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra.

4. PIE JESU
Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Reqiuem” was written in memory of his father William and the hauntingly somber “Pie Jesu” has now become one of the most performed pieces from his extensive repertoire. Bringing together the final verse of the poem “Dies Irae” and the “Agnus Dei” from the Catholic mass this version is sung by Britain’s most popular soprano, Lesley Garrett.

5. BRIDAL MARCH FROM LOHENGRIN
Richard Wagner’s music from Lohengrin is more widely known as “Here Comes The Bride” or “The Wedding March” and in the Western world is an essential part of any formal wedding service. Performed by Rick Clark.

6. POMP AND CIRCUMSTANCE MARCH NO. 4
When Prince Charles married Lady Diana Spencer on July 29th, 1981 at St. Paul’s Cathedral the happy couple made the long walk down the aisle to conclude the ceremony to the sound of Edward Elgar’s regal march. With a title taken from Shakespeare’s Othello this version is performed aptly by The Band Of The Prince Of Wales Division (Lucknow)

7. OVERTURE/THE GLOBE THEATRE FROM HENRY V
Prince Charles second marriage took place onApril 9th, 2005 when he married Camilla Parker-Bowles at Windsor’s Guildhall. Unusually for a royal wedding it featured film music in its order of service, William Walton’s stirring score from Laurence Olivier’s stunning production of Henry V. Britain’s legendary actor/director describe Walton thus, “His paleness and coldness made the passionate blaze in all his music a thing of wonder and amazement”. Performed by The City Of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra.

8. TOCCATA 5TH SYMPHONY
Written by Charles-Marie Jean Albert Widor in 1879, the Symphony for Organ No 5 in F Minor is generally known as Widor’s “Toccata” and has become increasingly popular over the years as recessional music at wedding ceremonies. Popular at royal weddings it featured at the marriage of Prince Edward and Sophie Countess Of Wessex on June 19th, 1999. Performed by Rick Clark.

9. SOUS LE DÔME ÉPAIS (THE FLOWER DUET)
Léo Delibe’s opera Lakmé was first performed in Paris in 1883 and its duet for sopranos has become, in the last few decades, a fixture in many films, TV programs and commercials. This eloquent version once more features the beauty of Lesley Garrett’s enchanting voice.

10. CROWN IMPERIAL
The second piece of music on this collectionfrom William Walton, composed for the coronation of King Edward VIII, but because of his abdication used for the crowning of his brother King George VI. Despite these origins it has proved a royal wedding favorite. Quintessentially British, this live recording comes once more from a Kneller Hall summer concert with the massed military bands providing a breathtaking finale and the sound of a spectacular firework display adding considerably to the percussion section.Performed by The Band Of The Irish Guards, North West Infantry T.A. Band & The Band Of The Grenadier Guards.

11. FOR THE LOVE OF A PRINCESS
James Horner’s sumptuous love theme from Braveheart has become a major soundtrack to weddings since the film’s release in 1995. The love story of William Wallace and Princess Isabelle Of France is immaculately translated to music in thisemotive piece. Performed by The City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra.

12. CANON IN D MAJOR
Born in 1653, most of the work of Baroque composer Johann Pachelbel has been lost to the ravages of history. However his Canon In D Major lives on as a single manuscript copy survived and the piece was revived in 1919, subsequently becoming a classical standard.

13. THE BALCONY SCENE FROM WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE’S ROMEO + JULIET
Baz Lurhmann’s retelling of William Shakespeare’s Romeo + Juliet features an emotionally charged score that matches the dynamics and moments of tenderness on screen. Craig Armstrong’s sensuous music for the most romantic scene ever written is a must for any wedding service. Performed by The City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra.

14. WEDDING MARCH FROM FROM A MIDSUMMER'S NIGHT DREAM
Written in 1842 by Felix Mendelssohn and probably one of the most ubiquitous pieces of music heard across the globe. The march first appeared at a royal wedding when Queen Victoria's daughter princess Victoria Adelaide Mary Louise married Frederick William IV of Prussia on January 25th, 1858.

15. I VOW TO THEE MY COUNTRY
In 1908 the diplomat Cecil Spring-Rice wrote a fiercely patriotic poem called “Urbs-Dei” which he later modified to reflect the appalling loss of life in The Great War. In 1921 Gustav Holst adapted the Jupiter section from his Planets suite to create the hymn “I Vow To Thee My Country”, which became a staple of remembrance services in the UK. A favorite hymn of Princess Diana it was played at both her wedding and funeral. Sang here by, Helena Blackman with The City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra.

16. GOD SAVE THE QUEEN
The national anthem of the United Kingdom first published in 1744, its composition attributed to various sources ranging from an old Scots carol to Handel’s “Sarabande”. Performed by - The Royal Artillery Band, The Band Of The Army Air Corps & The Band Of The Royal Military School Of Music.

US RELEASE DATE: April 5, 2011

For more information about these recordings visit http://www.silvascreenmusic.com